Casper Man Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Police Officer

A Casper man who allegedly assault a police officer and tried to grab the officer's gun was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning.

Travis Mitchell Maddox, 53, was booked into jail on two recommend charges of felony interference with a peace officer. He will likely make his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. Monday.

Charging papers say a family fight at 1017 South Chestnut was reported to police at 12:45 a.m. Friday. The person who called police said she could hear a man throwing things and screaming inside an apartment, adding, "It sounds like someone is beating someone up."

The reporting party also said she heard a woman screaming. She was unsure whether weapons or alcohol were involved.

One officer arrived four minutes after the 911 call was received. Upon arriving, the officer could hear people talking and yelling in an apartment, so the officer found an open door on the south side.

Through the open door, court documents say, the officer saw a man and woman sitting on a couch, with the man bleeding from his ear. Maddox was standing in the kitchen.

The officer shined his light into the apartment and asked about the situation. Maddox allegedly walked to the door and tried to close it, but the officer prevented Maddox from doing so.

Maddox tried to push the officer out of the doorway and shut the door. Rather than going into the apartment alone with three other people, the officer tried to pull Maddox outside.

Maddox reportedly kept pushing the officer and swung at him with a closed fist. At that point, the officer went into the apartment. Maddox allegedly punched the officer, and the officer began to actively fight Maddox.

The officer was able to pull Maddox out of the apartment.

Then, the officer noticed Maddox had both of his hands on the officer's gun, trying to pull it out of the holster.

Court documents say this took about two minutes, and a pair of other officers had arrived at the scene. The first officer told the other two, as they made their way to the first officer's position, that Maddox was trying to take his weapon.

The first officer punched Maddox in the face several times, ordering Maddox to release his grip on the gun. The other two officers then arrived, and one of them jumped on Maddox. The officers were ultimately able to handcuff Maddox.

According to the affidavit, Maddox at one point during the altercation told the officers, "All you [expletive removed] are going to die."

The first officer couldn't recall if Maddox had actually hit him, but a 24-year-old who had been on a ride-along with the officer said Maddox had in fact hit him multiple times.

Maddox allegedly later told officer, "Gun or not I'll grab whatever the f--- I want."

The other two people who had been inside the apartment with Maddox explained that Maddox had previously dated the woman. The man and woman had been asleep in bed when Maddox allegedly entered the apartment without permission and assaulted the man.

The man, however, did not wish to press charges for the alleged incident.

Police reportedly saw blood spatter on the bed, pillows, wall and the man's shoulder consistent with his story.